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The differences between paralegals and paralegal specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a paralegal and a paralegal specialist. Additionally, a paralegal specialist has an average salary of $61,244, which is higher than the $49,943 average annual salary of a paralegal.
The top three skills for a paralegal include litigation, legal research and law firm. The most important skills for a paralegal specialist are legal research, litigation, and government agencies.
| Paralegal | Paralegal Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $49,943 | $61,244 |
| Hourly rate | $24.01 | $29.44 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 5,177 | 4,185 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Paralegals are law firm or legal department employees who work on cases with lawyers. They handle different activities, usually administrative or clerical, such as organizing and maintaining files, updating records, and managing correspondences, among others. Paralegals also handle different activities directly related to active cases being worked on by lawyers in the firm or department. They assist lawyers on cases by preparing materials needed for trials, conducting legal research, verifying trial facts, helping during interviews, getting statements from those involved in the case, and creating presentation materials. Paralegals should have knowledge of laws and should be familiar with landmark cases.
A Paralegal Specialist provides assistance to lawyers and does many of the same jobs that lawyers do. They work in various areas, such as family, environmental, or real estate law.
Paralegals and paralegal specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Paralegal | Paralegal Specialist | |
| Average salary | $49,943 | $61,244 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $70,000 | Between $35,000 And $106,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Arnall Golden Gregory | DLA Piper |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Government |
There are a few differences between a paralegal and a paralegal specialist in terms of educational background:
| Paralegal | Paralegal Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Legal Support Services | Legal Support Services |
| Most common college | Harvard University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between paralegals' and paralegal specialists' demographics:
| Paralegal | Paralegal Specialist | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 22.4% Female, 77.6% | Male, 37.8% Female, 62.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 5.7% White, 59.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 5.9% White, 61.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |